Assam, Meghalaya villagers resolve to coordinate for HEC mitigation

Guwahati, Dec 22: Premier biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak in partnership with the Krishnai Forest Range in Goalpara, conducted an engaging awareness event on December 15 last to facilitate a deeper understanding among the local community of the need for sustained efforts for environment conservation.
Ketekibari village is located at the inter-state boundary between Assam and Garo Hills areas of Meghalaya.
The local community in Ketekibari village comprises of Rabha and Garo tribe people.
The nearby villages of Chaplengkata, Thakurbila and Borjhora including Ketekibari share the inter-state boundary between Goalpara district of Assam and West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.
The residents of these villages have been facing issues related to the HEC (Human elephant conflict) for a long time.
The primary goal of this meeting was to enhance awareness regarding the mitigation of human-elephant conflict (HEC) and to promote harmonious coexistence among the villages of both states.
Through this gathering, we aimed to unite community members on a shared platform, fostering understanding and collaboration to effectively tackle the challenges posed by the HEC.
By engaging in open dialogue and exchanging insights, we hope to create sustainable solutions that benefit both people and elephants in the region.
Around 50 participants from that area, both from Assam and Meghalaya attended in the awareness programme. Nokmas from Garo Hill side and Gaon burhas along with local farmers attended the meeting and shared their issues and present status of HEC mitigation.
The Krishnai Forest Range team comprised by Dy Ranger Rajib Kataki, Forester 1 Jitan Talukdar, Forest Guards Barasha Gogoi and Gitali Borah. The Aaranyak team comprised of Anjan Baruah, Subhas Ch. Rabha, Manjit Das, Ripunjoy Nath and Bijoy Kalita.
The programme was moderated by Subhas Ch. Rabha of Aaranyak. Anjan Baruah from Aaranyak discussed with the participants probable HEC mitigation measures in that area. He also discussed on various important dos and don’ts displaying some slides for the promotion of coexistence.
From the Krishnai Range Rajib Kataki and Barasha Gogoi interacted with the participants.
The Nokmas and people from Garo hills side spoke about non receiving of HEC mitigation tools from Meghalaya side. They requested Assam to provide some support for HEC mitigation. While participants from Assam side also requested for some more torch lights and solar street lights to mitigate the HEC issues in those areas.
All the participants from both Assam and Meghalaya area expressed their solidarity to the present efforts for mitigating the HEC.
After the meeting following decisions were taken by the local community: –
1) A joint elephant protection committee will be formed soon in that area with members from both the state. This new group will work as an Elephant Conservation Network (ECN).
2) People of Goalpara and West Garo Hills will ask for help to any forest patrolling team whichever present during elephant raiding time.
3) The villagers of Assam and Meghalaya side will help each other during elephant patrolling. All the villagers will coordinate to move out the elephant without obstruction.
4) Each Forest team will help people from Assam as well as Meghalaya areas during elephant patrolling.